•All three games will be carried over the radio on the Worcester Sharks’ flagship station WTAG (580 AM). The voice of the Sharks, Eric Lindquist, calls the action while Chris Del Vecchio handles the intermissions on Friday and Sunday. All three games can also be seen on the B2 Network.

•Friday’s game will be one of nine games broadcast over Charter’s Channel 3 in Central Massachusetts. Kevin Shea will join Lindquist in calling the action.

 

•Friday: For the second consecutive year, the Sharks will serve as the official host of the 2008 Special Olympics Winter Games. The on-ice presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. To read more about the ceremony, click here. The team also had a special bowling event on Tuesday to kick off the opening ceremonies. To read about it, click here.

•Sunday: Papa Gino’s Family Value Sunday with the Sharks:  4 tickets and an X-Large Cheese Pizza only $48. Click here to order!

 

For more information on ticket packages and promotions, or to purchase tickets, call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500, check out the new www.sharksahl.com, or order through Ticketmaster.

 

•In Wednesday’s three-goal win over the Falcons, each of the four Sharks’ goals were scored on special teams. Devin Setoguchi started the scoring at 1:24 of the first period with a shorthanded tally, and the Sharks finished 3-for-8 on the power play, tying the most power play goals in a game this season. Worcester also scored two goals on the man advantage in the second period, tying a season-high. All this against a team the Sharks had struggled against on the power play (2-28 heading into the game).

•It was the first time that the Sharks had multiple power play goals since Dec. 31 at Manchester, spanning 23 games.

•With an impressive day on the man advantage, the Sharks jumped from 19th in the league in power play percentage all the way to 14th.

•The Sharks scored a shorthanded and power play goal in the first period, marking only the second time that has happened this season. The other was on Feb. 16 at Norfolk when Setoguchi had a shorthanded and power play goal in the first.

•The shorthanded goal was the sixth of the season for the Sharks. Setoguchi has scored two of them and had a hand in three, assisting on the other.

 

•Goaltender Dimitri Patzold has allowed one goal or less in each of his five wins this season. In total, he has only given up four goals in his five victories.

 

•On Wednesday, Dan Spang, Riley Armstrong, and Mike Iggulden each extended their point streaks to two games.

•Tom Cavanagh and Devin Setoguchi extended their streaks to three games while Graham Mink is on a two-game goal (and point) streak.

 

•Tom Cavanagh set a new season-high for points (3) and assists (2) in a game.

•Mike Iggulden tied a season-high in assists (2), accomplished on numerous occasions.

 

•Brad Staubitz and Brennan Evans both had fighting majors on Wednesday, marking the eighth time they both had fights in the same game this season.

•In total, there have been 11 fights against the Falcons in the first six games of the season series. Evans leads with five while Staubitz has four against their Atlantic-Division rival.

•Four of the six games in the season series have had 50 or more penalty minutes.

 

•The Sharks now hold a 5-1-0-0 record against Springfield this season.

•Worcester scored first on Wednesday, marking only the second time they have scored first in the season series.

•Devin Setoguchi has scored a goal in every game that he has played in against the Falcons this season (Jan. 26, Feb. 24, and Feb. 27). He was in San Jose during the other three meetings.

 

•Manchester is led in the goal-scoring department by rookie phenom Teddy Purcell. The AHL All-Star has picked up 58 points (16g, 42a) in 47 games. The dynamic scoring attack includes three others who own 40+ points on the season: Gabe Gauthier 53 points (21g, 32a), Brian Boyle 47 points (22g, 25a), and Peter Harrold 43 points (7g, 36a). Paul Crosty and Kevin Westgarth lead the team in penalty minutes with 164 and 143. Daniel Taylor has been impressive in between the pipes. He owns an impressive 10-4-3 record, .916 save percentage, and 2.57 goals against average. Jonathan Quick was recently called up from Reading (ECHL) to serve as backup.

•The Monarchs have a lethal power play, which is first in the league (24%), but are last in penalty killing (76.6%).

 

Nov. 23           Worcester 3 at Manchester 1

Dec. 7              Manchester 4 at Worcester 3 (SO)

Dec. 16            Worcester 5 at Manchester 1

Dec. 29            Manchester 3 at Worcester 2 (OT)

Dec. 31            Worcester 3 at Manchester 2

Jan. 4               Manchester 5 at Worcester 3

Jan. 23             Worcester 0 at Manchester 2

Feb. 2              Manchester 1 at Worcester 3

 

Goals               22                    19

Shots               243                  237

Power Play      7-40 (18%)      6-33 (18%)

 

Worcester: Graham Mink 9 points (4g, 5a), T.J. Fox 4 points (4g, 1a), Nate Raduns 5 points (3g, 2a), Mike Iggulden 5 points (0g, 5a), Lukas Kaspar 4 points (4g, 0a), Derek Joslin 4 points (2g, 2a), Dan Spang 4 points (0g, 4a), Devin Setoguchi 4 points (0g, 4a) … Dimitri Patzold (2-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .965 save pct), Taylor Dakers (1-1-0, 1.54 GAA, .954 save pct)

 

Manchester: Gabe Gauthier 7 points (5g, 2a), Brian Boyle 6 points (3g, 3a), Teddy Purcell 6 points (3g, 3a), Trevor Lewis 4 points (2g, 2a), Lauri Tukonen 3 points (1g, 2a), Peter Harrold 3 points (1g, 2a) … Daniel Taylor (2-1-0, 2.17 GAA, .938 save pct)

Goals For                   2.75- 16th                    2.91-12th

Goals Agst                3.31- 27th                     3.14- 25th

Shots For                   29.98- 13th                  31.14- 7th

Shots Agst                29.55- 16th                  29.17-14th

PP                               16.1%- 14th                 24.0%- 1st

PK                               79.9%- 26th                 76.6%- 29th

PIMS                          18.5-20th                      17.8-22^nd

 

•Brad Staubitz has dropped the gloves six times vs. Manchester this season, three times against Drew Bagnall. The last time they played, the two squared off in a pair of spirited bouts on Feb. 2 at the DCU Center. The two also had a fight 10 days earlier on Jan. 23 at Manchester.

 

•The River Rats have surged all the way to third place in the East Division standings. They are led by three 40 point scorers, one of which who is currently on recall with the Carolina Hurricanes. Brandon Nolan leads with 48 points (23g, 25a), Jamie Johnson has 45 (15g, 30a), and Keith Aucoin has 45 (8g, 37a). Aucoin is currently playing for Carolina. Mike Angelidis leads the team in penalty minutes with 109. Michael Leighton has been dazzling in between the pipes with a .930 save percentage and 2.15 GAA. Despite the numbers, he only stands at two games over .500 on the season, 20-18-4.

 

Jan. 12             Worcester 3 at Albany 4

 

Goals               3                      4

Shots               30                    27

Power Play      0-3 (0%)          0-5 (0%)

 

Worcester: Devin Setoguchi 2 points (0g, 2a), Lukas Kaspar 1 point (1g), T.J. Fox 1 point (1g), Riley Armstrong 1 point (1g), Mike Iggulden 1 point (1a), Tom Cavanagh 1 point (1a), Tom Walsh 1 point (1a), Patrick Traverse 1 point (1a) … Taylor Dakers (0-1-0, 4.07 GAA, .852 save pct)

 

Albany: David Gove 2 points (1g, 1a), Bryan Rodney 2 points (0g, 2a), Nicolas Blanchard 1 point (1g), Jordan Fox 1 point (1g), Joey Mormina 1 point (1g) … John Grahame (1-0-0, 3.00 GAA, .900 save pct)

Goals For                   2.75- 16th                    2.68-20th

Goals Agst                  3.31- 27th                    2.53- 4th

Shots For                    29.98- 13th                  29.48- 17th

Shots Agst                  29.55- 16th                  31.30-23rd

PP                               16.1%- 14th                15.7%- 18th

PK                               79.9%- 26th                84.5%- 9th

PIMS                          18.5-20th                     19.0-14^th

 

•On Saturday, Defenseman J.D. Forrest gets the opportunity to experience the Worcester/Albany matchup from both sides. He played for the River Rats against the Sharks in the only other meeting between these two teams. Before he was traded to the Sharks, he picked up 12 points (4g, 8a) in 22 games for Albany.

•The Admirals are led at forward by Kyle Wanvig who has 47 points (19g, 28a) on the season. Norm Milley is right behind with 46 (19g, 27a), and Junior Lessard has 36 (16g, 20a). Jay Rosehill serves as the team’s primary enforcer with 148 penalty minutes in 46 games. Karl Stewart, Wanvig, and Rosehill were in the middle of the incidents that happened on Feb. 15 when a brawl broke out between the Sharks and Admirals. Jonathan Boutin and NHL veteran Marc Denis serve as a solid goaltending duo; Boutin has a 12-11-4 record, .908 save pct, and 3.02 GAA while Denis is 5-9-3 with a .895 save pct and 3.12 GAA.

Feb. 15            Worcester 2 at Norfolk 4

Feb. 16            Worcester 2 at Norfolk 4

 

Goals               4                      8

Shots               91                    49

Power Play      2-11 (18%)      0-11 (0%)

 

Worcester: Devin Setoguchi 2 points (2g, 0a), Nate Raduns 2 points (1g, 1a), Tom Walsh 1 point (1g), Iggulden, Packard, Kaspar, Mink, Fox, Cavanagh 1 assist each … Taylor Dakers (0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 save pct in 18 minutes), Thomas Greiss (0-2-0, 4.24 GAA, .833 save pct)

 

Norfolk: Norm Milley 5 points (2g, 3a), Blair Jones 5 points (0g, 5a), Kyle Wanvig 3 points (2g, 1a), Paul Szczechura 2 points (2g, 0a), several players with one point… Jonathan Boutin (1-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .952 save pct), Marc Denis (1-0-0, 2.26 GAA, .957 GAA)

Goals For                   2.75- 16th                    2.71-18th

Goals Agst                  3.31- 27th                    3.32- 28th

Shots For                    29.98- 13th                  28.10- 22nd

Shots Agst                  29.55- 16th                  31.69-24th

PP                               16.1%- 14th                15.1%- 22nd

PK                               79.9%- 26th                79.9%- 27th

PIMS                          18.5-20th                     20.0-11th

•The Sharks are home for an extended stretch and even after four straight home games, will still play 15 of the final 25 games at the friendly confines of the DCU Center.

•Ever since returning from injury on Feb. 2 at Manchester, defenseman Marc Busenburg has turned it up in the assist category. He has dished five helpers in seven games after having only two in his first 11 contests.

 

•The Worcester Sharks and Devereux have teamed up for a unique opportunity benefiting a worthy cause. Fans have the opportunities to pledge a certain dollar amount per Sharks goal scored during the nine home games in March, with all the proceeds supporting Devereux. If the pledge is $1 per goal and the Sharks score 30 goals during the nine home games, the final donation will be $30. Flat donations are also accepted. To read more and find out how you can help, click here.

 

•The Worcester Sharks have announced two separate specialty jersey nights in which fans will have the opportunity to bid on game-worn jerseys of their favorite Sharks players. The Sharks will debut alternate jerseys during two home games on Feb. 29 and Mar. 16. To find out more about the auction, click here.

 

•To read about what the Sharks are up to in the community, check out this week's Community Notebook

 

•American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced that the Worcester Sharks and the city of Worcester have been awarded the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic. The event will take place at the DCU Center in January, 2009. The 2009 event in Worcester will mark the fourth time since it was revived in 1995 that the AHL All-Star Classic will take place in New England. The AHL All-Star Game was last held in Massachusetts in 1959 at the Eastern States Coliseum in West Springfield.

•The All-Star banner was raised to the rafters of the DCU Center prior to the Sharks game vs. Portland on Saturday.

•Former Worcester Shark Steve Bernier was traded from San Jose to Buffalo in a trade for Brian Campbellon Tuesday. Bernier scored two goals and added an assist in his Sabres debut on Wednesday.

•San Jose received numerous contributions from former Worcester Sharks in their 4-2 win over Columbus on Wednesday. Joe Pavelski had two points (1g, 1a) while Torrey Mitchell scored a goal and Matt Carle added an assist..

•Mathieu Darche, who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Lighting, scored a shorthanded goal against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. He currently has 12 points on five goals and seven assists.

•Garrett Stafford was recalled from the AHL’s Grand Rapid Griffins by Detroit on Saturday and made his NHL debut with the Red Wings against the Vancouver Canucks, recording one shot on goal.

•Seven players have played for both Worcester and San Jose this season.

• Thomas Greiss has appeared in three games and owns a 0-1-1 record with a 3.26 GAA and .860 save pct … Dimitri Patzold appeared in three games with a .800 save pct … Marc-Edouard Vlasic who appeared in one game for Worcester over the NHL All-Star Break, has 11 points (1g, 10a) … Tomas Plihal has played in 11 games, scoring a goal … Devin Setoguchi scored 9 goals and 3 assists in his 29 games in San Jose … Lukas Kaspar has appeared in three games, putting five shots on goal …Sandis Ozolinsh has 3 goals and 16 assists.

 

•In every game preview, sharksahl.com will feature a different player. This week, read about goaltender Thomas Greiss, who was reassigned to Worcester from San Jose on Wednesday.

 

 

2007-08 with Worcester & San Jose (NHL): Reassigned to Worcester on 2/27 … Recalled to San Jose on 2/18 and started one game against the New Jersey Devils … Stuck up for teammates when he got into a bout with Norfolk goaltender Jonathan Boutin on 2/15.  Both finished with 17 minutes of penalties, including game misconducts … .Reassigned to Worcester on 2/8 … Recalled by San Jose 1/29 … Played at Springfield (1/26), earning the shootout win … Made 26 saves and all five in the shootout to clinch the win … Reassigned to Worcester on 1/25 … Made his NHL debut, earning the start on 1/14 at Anaheim … Recalled to San Jose on 1/8 … Won three straight starts (12/14-12/18) … Recalled to San Jose 11/22 and served as back up for one game before being sent back to Worcester 11/25 … Started 10 of first 14 games this season … Made season-high 39 saves in 5-3 win vs. Providence 10/21 … Made 36 saves and stopped all four shooters in a 2-1 shootout win vs. Springfield on 11/12 … Started season 3-0-0 at home stopping 99-105 shots (.942%)